WPI to PD calculator
The percentage in the medical report — the whole person impairment — is not the percentage that pays. California converts WPI to permanent disability in three schedule steps: the SB 863 ×1.4 adjustment, the occupational variant for the injured worker’s job group, and the age adjustment at the date of injury. Same WPI, different job or age — different money. Run it live:
The conversion at a glance
Reference case: lumbar spine (impairment 15.03.01.00), age 37–41 (the neutral bracket), no apportionment — engine-computed for three occupational groups. Every cell is the final PD% the string would print.
| WPI | After ×1.4 | Clerical (111) | Mid-demand (340) | Heavy labor (380) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5% | 7% | 5% | 8% | 10% |
| 10% | 14% | 10% | 16% | 18% |
| 15% | 21% | 16% | 23% | 26% |
| 20% | 28% | 21% | 31% | 34% |
| 25% | 35% | 27% | 38% | 41% |
| 30% | 42% | 34% | 45% | 48% |
| 35% | 49% | 40% | 52% | 55% |
| 40% | 56% | 47% | 59% | 62% |
| 45% | 63% | 54% | 66% | 69% |
| 50% | 70% | 61% | 72% | 75% |
Example, priced: 20% WPI for a heavy laborer (group 380) converts to 34% PD — 159 weeks × $290.00 at the 2026 maximum = $46,110.00. Price any result on the settlement calculator or the money chart.
Why WPI ≠ PD
The AMA Guides measure medical impairment; the PDRS measures earning-capacity loss. The ×1.4 multiplier (Lab. Code §4660.1, injuries 2013+) bridges the two, then the occupation table asks how much the injury matters for that job — a hand injury rates higher for a typist than a supervisor — and the age table asks how old the worker was when injured. The full pipeline, including multiple body parts combining on the CVC and apportionment, runs in the free calculator; the mechanics are unpacked in how PD is calculated. For 2005–2012 injuries the ×1.4 step is instead an FEC rank — the calculator handles both eras.
Estimates for informational use only; verify ratings against the DEU. Not legal advice.
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